Rhododendron plant named ‘Fuji’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Rhododendron  plant named ‘Fuji’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; lanceolate-shaped leaves; freely flowering habit; single dark pink-colored flowers with lanceolate-shaped petals; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Rhododendron simsii×Rhododendron linearifolia.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Fuji’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofRhododendron plant, botanically known as Rhododendronsimsii×Rhododendron linearifolia, and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Fuji’.

The new Rhododendron plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Paterswolde, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new Rhododendron varieties havingunique and attractive leaf and flower forms.

The new Rhododendron plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in April, 2001, in Paterswolde, The Netherlands, of

Rhododendron simsii ‘Terra Nova’, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with an unnamed proprietary selection of Rhododendronlinearifolia, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newRhododendron was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Paterswolde, The Netherlands in2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rhododendron plant by terminal cuttingstaken in a controlled environment in Paterswolde, The Netherlands since2004 has shown that the unique features of this new Rhododendron plantare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Rhododendron have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and/or lightintensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘Fuji’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘Fuji’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Lanceolate-shaped leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Single dark pink-colored flowers with lanceolate-shaped        petals.    -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Rhododendron differ from plants of the female parent,‘Terra Nova’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rhododendron have lanceolate-shaped leaves        whereas plants of ‘Terra Nova’ have oval-shaped leaves.    -   2. Plants of the new Rhododendron have pubescent leaves whereas        plants of ‘Terra Nova’ have glabrous leaves.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Rhododendron have        lanceolate-shaped petals whereas flowers of plants of ‘Terra        Nova’ have spatulate-shaped petals.

Plants of the new Rhododendron differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rhododendron are more compact than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Rhododendron have longer petals        than flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Rhododendron can be compared to the plants ofRhododendron simsii ‘Miss Lulu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.14,263. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Paterswolde, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Rhododendron differed from plants of‘Miss Lulu’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rhododendron had lanceolate-shaped leaves        whereas plants of ‘Miss Lulu’ had elliptic-shaped leaves.    -   2. Plants of the new Rhododendron had single flowers whereas        plants of ‘Miss Lulu’ had double flowers.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Rhododendron had        lanceolate-shaped petals whereas flowers of plants of ‘Miss        Lulu’ had obovate-shaped petals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Rhododendron plant.

These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Rhododendron plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plants of ‘Fuji’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical flowers of ‘Fuji’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical leaves of ‘Fuji’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands inone-liter containers with three plants per container. Plants were grownin a glass-covered greenhouse during the winter and under commercialRhododendron production conditions. During the production of the plants,day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 30° C. and night temperaturesranged from 10° C. to 18° C. Plants used for the photographs anddescription were 18 months old and were pinched one time. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rhododendron simsii×Rhododendron    linearifolia ‘Fuji’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Rhododendron simsii ‘Terra Nova’,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Rhododendron linearifolia, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 45 days at soil temperatures            of 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 90 days at soil            temperatures of 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; brownish in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen; upright            to outwardly spreading plant habit; broad inverted triangle;            moderately vigorous to low vigor; full and bushy plants;            freely flowering habit with numerous single flowers per            plant.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; about 14 lateral            branches develop per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch            development. Plant height, soil level to top of flowers:            About 15.3 cm.        -   Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 25.5 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 5.8 cm. Diameter:            About 2 mm. Internode length: About 7.5 mm. Strength:            Strong. Texture, developing: Pubescent. Texture, mature:            Woody. Color, developing: Close to 145A. Color, mature:            Close to 165B to 165C.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, single. Length:            About 4.5 cm. Width: About 7.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; undulate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Pubescent; rugose. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:            Between N137A and 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface:            Close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Between            N137A and 147A; venation, close to 146C to 146D. Fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137A to 137B;            venation, close to 147C to 147D.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 147C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Rhododendron            typically flower from the late winter to early summer in The            Netherlands.        -   Flower arrangement and appearance.—Single “spider-shaped”            flowers arranged in terminal clusters; freely flowering            habit with usually about seven flowers developing per            terminal branch; flowers face upward or outward.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;            plants maintain good flower substance for about two weeks on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweet and pleasant.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5.2 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Flower bud (before showing color).—Length: About 1 cm.            Diameter: About 7 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Close to            143C.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single flower form with five petals            arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 3.9 cm. Width:            About 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            somewhat velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface:            Between 67B and 68A; towards the base, close to 68B. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 67C. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 71D; towards the base, close to 68B; color            does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 71C to 71D.        -   Sepals.—None observed.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Angle: About 15° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About            five. Filament length: About 2.9 cm. Filament color: Close            to 71D; towards the base, close to 68C. Anther length: About            2 mm. Anther color: Close to 173D. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 155D. Gynoecium: Quantity per flower:            Typically one. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Style length:            About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 146B to 146C tinged with            close to 53D. Stigma shape: Club-shaped; towards the apex,            flattened. Stigma color: Close to 143A. Ovary color: Close            to 147A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Weather/temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Rhododendron have    been observed to be tolerant to rain and wind and to tolerate    temperatures from about −10° C. to about 35° C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants have not been observed to be    resistant to pathogens and pests common to Rhododendrons.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named ‘Fuji’ asillustrated and described.